Cybersecurity threats evolve with AI and carpet bombing DDoS attacks

Cybersecurity threats are evolving through more sophisticated Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) techniques, such as ‘carpet bombing’ attacks. Unlike traditional DDoS methods that target a single IP address to overwhelm it with traffic, carpet bombing spreads malicious traffic thinly across an entire block of IP addresses. This method allows attackers to evade traditional detection systems, which typically monitor for unusual spikes on individual addresses, while still inflicting massive aggregate damage on an organization or internet service provider.

Furthermore, the integration of AI is making attacks faster and more adaptive. In 2025, Cloudflare mitigated 47.1 million DDoS attacks, representing a 121% increase from the previous year. Data from Radware indicates that customers faced an average of 139 attempted attacks per day in the second half of 2025, a figure expected to nearly triple in 2026. AI is now being used to generate attack scripts and scan for vulnerabilities in real time, necessitating more dynamic, automated defense strategies.